Enhancement of the Aroma Compound 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline in Thai Jasmine Rice (Oryza sativa) by Rhizobacteria under Salt Stress

Beneficial Soil Bacteria: Many Recipes to Promote Plant Growth and Protection

This Special Issue includes studies originating from various countries around the globe and covers diverse types and mechanisms of microbial beneficial functions for plant life [...].

Kosakonia oryziphila NP19 bacterium acts as a plant growth promoter and biopesticide to suppress blast disease in KDML105 rice

This study demonstrates that root-associated Kosakonia oryziphila NP19, isolated from rice roots, is a promising plant growth-promoting bioagent and biopesticide for combating rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae. In vitro experiments were conducted on fresh leaves of Khao Dawk Mali 105 (KDML105) jasmine rice seedlings. The results showed that NP19 effectively inhibited the germination of P. oryzae fungal conidia. Fungal infection was suppressed across three different treatment conditions: rice colonized with NP19 and inoculated by fungal conidia, a mix of NP19 and fungal conidia concurrently inoculated on the leaves, and fungal conidia inoculation first followed by NP19 inoculation after 30 h. Additionally, NP19 reduced fungal mycelial growth by 9.9-53.4%. In pot experiments, NP19 enhanced the activities of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 6.1-63.0% and 3.0-67.7%, respectively, indicating a boost in the plant's defense mechanisms. Compared to the uncolonized control, the NP19-colonized rice had 0.3-24.7% more pigment contents, 4.1% more filled grains per panicle, 26.3% greater filled grain yield, 34.4% higher harvest index, and 10.1% more content of the aroma compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP); for rice colonized with NP19 and infected with P. oryzae, these increases were 0.2-49.2%, 4.6%, 9.1%, 54.4%, and 7.5%, respectively. In field experiments, blast-infected rice that was colonized and/or inoculated with NP19 treatments had 15.1-27.2% more filled grains per panicle, 103.6-119.8% greater filled grain yield, and 18.0-35.8% higher 2AP content. A higher SOD activity (6.9-29.5%) was also observed in the above-mentioned rice than in the blast-infected rice that was not colonized and inoculated with NP19. Following blast infection, NP19 applied to leaves decreased blast lesion progression. Therefore, K. oryziphila NP19 was demonstrated to be a potential candidate for use as a plant growth-promoting bioagent and biopesticide for suppressing rice blast.

As(III)-oxidizing and plant growth-promoting bacteria increase the starch biosynthesis-related enzyme activity, 2-AP levels, and grain quality of arsenic-stressed rice plants

BACKGROUND

Grain quality is an important index of rice production, particularly when plants are grown under stress. Arsenic (As) contamination in paddy fields severely affects rice grain yield and quality. Here, the effects of As and combinations of As(III)-oxidizing bacteria (Pseudomonas stutzeri 4.25, 4.27, and 4.44) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (Delftia acidovorans KKU2500-12 and Cupriavidus taiwanensis KKU2500-3) on enzymes related to starch accumulation in grains and the grain quality of Khao Dawk Mali 105 rice cultivated in As-contaminated soil under greenhouse conditions were investigated.

RESULTS

Arsenic affected the activities of starch biosynthesis-related enzymes, and decreases of up to 76.27%, 71.53%, 49.74%, 73.39%, and 47.46% in AGPase, SSS, GBSS, SBE, and SDBE activities, respectively, and 9.42-61.07% in starch accumulation in grains were detected after growth in As-contaminated soil. However, the KKU2500-3/4.25 and KKU2500-3/4.44 combinations yielded the greatest enzyme activities in grains, and compared with the results observed in uninoculated seedlings, increases in starch accumulation of up to 51.16% and 23.81% were found in the inoculated seedlings after growth in medium- and high-As-contaminated soils, at 10-17 and 10-24 days after anthesis, respectively. The bacteria increased the 2-AP content in rice under As stress, possibly via the induction of proline, a 2-AP substrate. Bacterium-inoculated rice had significantly greater 2-AP levels than uninoculated rice, and 2.16-9.93% and 26.57-42.04% increases were detected in rice plants grown in medium- and high-As-contaminated soils, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Arsenic toxicity can be mitigated in rice growing under greenhouse conditions by maintaining starch biosynthesis, accumulating amylose, and increasing 2-AP content. The effectiveness of these bacteria should be validated in paddy fields; hence, safe rice grains with a good starch content and aroma could be produced.

Draft genome sequence data of Micrococcus yunnanesis strain ORF15-23 from rice rhizosphere soil in Thailand

A Gram-positive bacterium designated as strain ORF15-23 was isolated from a soil sample collected from rainfed organic paddy fields in Roi Et province, Thailand. This strain is previously reported to produce indole-3-acetic acid and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) compound, solubilize potassium feldspar and promote growth of rice seedlings. The genome sequencing was carried out using Illumina MiSeq platform. The draft genome of strain ORF15-23 was 2,562,005 bp in length with 1677 protein coding sequences and an average G + C content of 72.97 mol.%. Phylogenomic tree supports the assignment of strain ORF15-23 as member of the genus Micrococcus. A comparison of average nucleotide identity (ANIb) values revealed that strain ORF15-23 shared 96.95 % identity with the genome of M. yunnanensis DSM 21948T. The draft genome sequence of M. yunnanesis ORF15-23 has been deposited in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession number JAZDRZ000000000. This genome sequence data provides insightful information for the taxonomic characterization and further biotechnological exploitation of M. yunnanesis ORF15-23.

Salt tolerant Pseudomonas taiwanensis PWR-1 in combination with a reduced dose of mineral fertilizers improves the nutritional and antioxidant properties of wheatgrass grown in saline soil

Salt-tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (ST-PGPR) are known to ameliorate salt stress in plants by various mechanisms. The current study aims to investigate the role of an ST-PGPR strain Pseudomonas taiwanensis PWR-1 applied along with a reduced dose of mineral fertilizers (N, P, and K) in the improvement of the antioxidant and nutritional properties of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in saline soil. Application of P. taiwanensis PWR-1 along with 50% of the recommended dose of mineral fertilizers resulted in a significant improvement of growth parameters including shoot length (22.79%), root length (20.38%), fresh weight (13.15%), dry weight (92.34%), vigor index (13.36%), and relative water content (48.24%). The combined application of PWR-1 and mineral fertilizers increased the production of osmoprotectants (proline, total soluble sugars, glycine betaine), antioxidants (SOD, POD, APX, CAT, PPO, and reduced glutathione), and free radical scavengers (DPPH and H2O2) in wheatgrass. Furthermore, the concentration of micronutrients (Zn and Fe), macronutrients (N, and P), and vitamins (B1 and E) also increased in the above treatment. Oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage) and Na+ accumulation were significantly reduced whilst K+ content increased in the shoot, which helped in maintaining the K+/Na+ ratio in wheatgrass under saline conditions. The results indicated that the application of ST-PGPR could not only reduce the dosage of mineral fertilizers but might be useful for improving the nutritional and antioxidant properties of medicinal crops such as wheatgrass under salt-stress conditions. Implementing this approach could result in the reduction of chemical usage, while also facilitating enhanced uptake of micronutrients in crops, particularly in regions affected by salinity.

Rhizoactinobacteria Enhance Growth and Antioxidant Activity in Thai Jasmine Rice (Oryza sativa) KDML105 Seedlings under Salt Stress

Salinity is one of the most devastating abiotic stresses hampering the growth and production of rice. Nine indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-producing salt-tolerant plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (ST-PGPR) were inoculated into Thai jasmine rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety Khao Dawk Mali 105 (KDML105) seedlings grown under different concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM). The ST-PGPR strains significantly promoted the growth parameters, chlorophyll content, nutrient uptake (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), antioxidant activity, and proline accumulation in the seedlings under both normal and saline conditions compared to the respective controls. The K+/Na+ ratio of the inoculated seedlings was much higher than that of the controls, indicating greater salt tolerance. The most salt-tolerant and IAA-producing strain, Sinomonas sp. ORF15-23, yielded the highest values for all the parameters, particularly at 50 mM NaCl. The percentage increases in these parameters relative to the controls ranged from >90% to 306%. Therefore, Sinomonas sp. ORF15-23 was considered a promising ST-PGPR to be developed as a bioinoculant for enhancing the growth, salt tolerance, and aroma of KDML105 rice in salt-affected areas. Environmentally friendly technologies such as ST-PGPR bioinoculants could also support the sustainability of KDML105 geographical indication (GI) products. However, the efficiency of Sinomonas sp. ORF15-23 should be evaluated under field conditions for its effect on rice nutrient uptake and growth, including the 2AP level.

Uremic mouse model to study vascular calcification and "inflamm-aging"

Calcification and chronic inflammation of the vascular wall is a high-risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, especially in patients with chronic uremia. For the reduction or prevention of rapid disease progression, no specific treatment options are currently available. This study aimed to evaluate an adenine-based uremic mouse model for studying medial vessel calcification and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) changes of aortic tissue to unravel molecular pathogenesis and provide a model for therapy testing. The dietary adenine administration induced a stable and similar degree of chronic uremia in DBA2/N mice with an increase of uremia blood markers such as blood urea nitrogen, calcium, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone. Also, renal fibrosis and crystal deposits were detected upon adenine feeding. The uremic condition is related to a moderate to severe medial vessel calcification and subsequent elastin disorganization. In addition, expression of osteogenic markers as Bmp-2 and its transcription factor Sox-9 as well as p21 as senescence marker were increased in uremic mice compared to controls. Pro-inflammatory uremic proteins such as serum amyloid A, interleukin (Il)-1β, and Il-6 increased. This novel model of chronic uremia provides a simple method for investigation of signaling pathways in vascular inflammation and calcification and therefore offers an experimental basis for the development of potential therapeutic intervention studies.